Fluid pressure apparatus



Maur-ch 26; 1935. .Y v.-A. TRIER l y 1,95a659 FLUID PRESSURE APPARATUS n n Filed DGO. '7, 1955 f ff 2 f .-mmm \r H64' U 'Y Pw @Meg/yin Patented Mar. 26, 1935v UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE pplication December 7, 1933, Serial No. 701,407

- In Great Britain December 30, 1932 Claims.

This invention relates to fluid pressure apparatus of the kind in which the fluid pressure can either be controlled by one or more movable control members or in which variations in the fluid 5 pressure due to the-action of a control member or to other causes acts through pressure-responsive apparatus to cause movement of or to vary the force applied to some part, and has for one of its objects to provide a simple and eilcient' form of apparatus through which either pressure can be applied to fluid in the uid pressure apparavtus or through which mechanism can be acted upon by pressure within the fluid pressure apparatus.

In the accompanying drawing, y Figures 1 and 2 illustrate, partly in longitudinal section, one construction according t o the invention,

Figure 3 shows on a smaller scale apparatus as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 applied to a. set lof vibration dampers of the friction type, Figure 4 shows yet another arrangement. In the construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus comprises va container A having 5 a cylindrical side wall A1 andl part-spherical end Walls A2 formed of fluid-tight flexible material, for example india rubber. The side wall A1 of the container is held from radial expansion and elongation under the action of the fluid pressure Within the container A by a cylindrical metal or other inexpansible sheath B the ends of which are turned inwards at B1 to provide a clinch to prevent longitudinal expansion of the side wall A1, these inturned ends B1 engaging shoulders B2 formed at the point where the end walls A2 meet the side wall A1. Each of the end walls A2 is reinforced by fabric B2 conveniently vulcanized into the rubber or like elastic material, this reinforcement B3 extending a short distance down the side wall A1 beyond the clinch B1. From the centre of one of the'part-spherical end walls A2 extends inwards a rubber neck or tube A4 of small diameter'into which a pipe A5 can be inserted so as to communicate with the interior of the container. It will be seen that uid pressure within the container A will act on the outer surface of the tube A4 so as to tend to maintain it in liquid-tight engagement with the pipe A5.

The container A is formed from two parts, 50 each part comprising the part-spherical end wall A2 and a portion of the cylindrical wall A1. The open end of one of the two parts which are to constitute the cylindrical wall A1 of the container A. is formed s o as to lit over the open end of the other part so that these parts telescope one ove the other to provide a closed vessel as shown. The joint between the overlapping or telescoping parts may if desired be vulcanized or cemented. For example@ where cementing is employed the outer one of the tWo telescoping parts is conveniently folded back so that what is to be the linner surface is exposed and this surface, as

well as the outer surface of the other part, then have solution applied to them. The outer part is then rolled down over the inner part so that the two become rmly cemented together. The

of the rubber container A may simply be inserted into opposite ends of the metallic sheath B without the cylindrical parts overlapping one another,

and may form a fluid-tight joint with this sheath,

a solution orcement being employed to assist in maintaining this Huid-tight joint between each part of the rubber container A and the metallic sheathB.

The container A formed in the above manner is arranged so as to slide longitudinally within a housing lD one end of which has mounted within it a stationary pressure member D1 carried by an end plug which is threaded to engage the hous- `ing D. The press e member D1 has a radius of curvature somew at smaller than that of the adjacent end wall A2 of the container A, the pipe A5 which extends within the container A passing through the centre of the pressure member D1 as clearly shown in Figure 2 and communicating through a bore D2 with sockets D3 v internally threaded for connection to the fluid pressure system to be controlled. The surface of the pressure member D1 and the adjacent end A2 of the container `A lie end to end with their convex surfaces adjaceht to pne another. Arranged in the other end of the housing D isa further pressure member D1 also having a convex part-spherical surface with a slightly smaller radius of curvature than that of the adjacent end A2 of the contain'er A, the pressure member D1 being rotatably carried, on the inner end of a spindle D6 which is in, threaded engagement with an end cap A6 threaded to engage the housing D, the spindle D6 being furnished atlits outer end with a hand y,wheel 5.

` When the hand wheel D5 is rotated so that the movable pressure member D4 is caused to bear on the adjacent end A2 of the container A, the pressure member D4 causes deformation of this end of the container A and the force thus exerted on the container causes bodily axial movement thereof so that the fixed pressure member D1 also bears on and deforms the opposite end of the container A, as clearly shown in Figure 2. In this way the pressure of fluid within the container A and hence in the fluid pressure system with which the pipe A5 communicates through the bore D2 and sockets D3, can be controlled.

Figure 3 illustrates one Way in which apparatus according to the invention may be applied to control a series of vibration dampers of the friction type. In the construction shown each of the sockets D3 of apparatus as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 is connected by a pipe E to a pipe E1 communicating at opposite ends respectively with two vibration dampers E2, for example of the type described in the specification of United States of America Patent No. 1,909,154. By rotating the hand wheel D5 the fluid pressure in the pipes E and E1, and therefore the pressure applied to the vibration dampers E2, can be adjusted as desired.

As illustrated in Figure 4 there is shown a container A similar to that illustrated in Figure l which communicates through a pipe S with a container T arranged within a casing T1 and having convex end walls 'I'2 of flexible material, this container being similar'to the container A. A fixed convex pressure member U and a movable convex member U1 are held in engagement with the convex walls 'I'2 by a spring V acting on the convex pressure member Ulwhich is carried on the inner end of a spindle U2 slidable longitudinally in a bearing T3 formed in one end wall of the casing T1. The outer end of the spindle U2 is operatively connected to a lever W through which the brakes of a vehicle can be operated. The movable pressure member D4 associated with the container A is carried on the inner end of a longitudinally movable spindle E3 the outer end of which is operatively connected to a brake pedal E4.

When the parts are in their normal positions shown in the drawing and the brake pedal E4 is actuated the walls A2 of the container A are deformed by the pressure members D4, D1, whereby the pressure within the container T is increased and the pressure member U1 thus moved outwards to operate the brake lever W. When the brake pedal E4 is released the spring V moves the pressure member U1 back towards the position shown so that the lever W is moved to release the brakes, a spring E5 at the same time restoring the brake pedal E4 toits inoperative position.

It is to be understood that the constructions more particularly described above are given by way of example only and that constructional details may be modified considerably according to the purpose for which the invention is intended, the degree of variation in pressure desirable in the fluid pressure system and other requirements without departing from this invention. Further, although the invention has been more particularly described as applied to fluid pressure apparatus for controlling brakes, vibration dampers, throttle controls and the like on vehicles, it may be applied to apparatus for controlling direction indicators, dipping head lights or other purposes, whether employed on`` vehicles or not. Again, the invention may be applied to uld pressure apparatus in which lmpulses are transmitted through a fluid, apparatus according to the invention being employed for transmitting or receiving the impulses, for varying the static pressure in the system or for other purposes.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In fluid pressure apparatus, in combination, a fluid container having a passage through which fluid pressure can be transmitted to and from the interior of the container, fluid within the container, end walls on the container each constructed of flexible material and of convex form, an inexpansible side wall connecting the end walls, a guide in which the container can slide along a longitudinal axis, a thrust member associated with one convex end wall and having a corresponding convex surface, and a thrust member associated with the other convex end wall and having a corresponding convex surface, the thrust members being relatively movable towards and away from one another so that when the thrust members are moved towards each other they will bear on and deform the associated convex walls of the container and transmit fluid pressure from the container, whereas an increase in the fluid pressure transmitted to the interior of the container will tend to cause the end Walls to move outwards and thus move the thrust members away from each other.

2. In fluid pressure apparatus, in combination, a fluid container having a passage through which pressure fluid can be transmitted to and from the interior of the container, fluid within the container, end walls on the container each constructed of flexible material and of convex form, an inexpansible sheath for holding the container from radial expansion, means on the sheath for preventing longitudinal expansion of the side wall of the container, a guide in which the container and sheath can slide along a longitudinal axis, a thrust member associated with one convex end Wall and having a corresponding convex surface, and a thrust member associated with the other convex end wall and having a corresponding convex surface, the thrust members being relatively movable towards and away from one another so that when moved towards each other they bear on and deform the associated convex walls of the container thereby causing increase of the pressure within the container and therefore of the pressure to be controlled.

3. In fluid pressure apparatus, in combination, a cylindrical fluid container having a passage through which pressure uid can be transmitted to and from the interior of the container, fluid within the container, end walls on the container each constructed of flexible material and of convex form, an inexpansible cylindrical sheath for holding the container against radial expansion, means on the sheath for preventing longitudinal expansion of the cylindrical wall of the container, a cylindrical casing in which the container and sheath can slide along a longitudinal axis, a thrust member associated with one convex end wall and having a corresponding convex surface,

and a thrust member associated with the other ,f

convex end wall and having a corresponding convex surface, the thrust members being relatively movable towards and away from one another so that when moved towards each other they bear on and deform the associated convex walls of the container and increase the pressure within the container thereby increasing the pressure to be controlled.

4.1111 iiuid pressure apparatus, in combination,

ible material and of convex form, an inexpansible side wall connecting the end walls, a guide in which the container can slide along aA longitudivhal axis, a thrust member associated with one convex end wall and having a corresponding convex surface, and a thrust member associated with the other convex end wall and having a corresponding convex surface, one convex end wall and the thrust member associated therewith havy ing a passage 'throughwhich pressure fluidk can be transmitted to and 'from the interior of the container, the thrust members being relatively movable towards and away from one another so that when moved towards each other they bear on and deform the associated convex walls of the ible material and oi' convex form, inexpansible side walls connecting the end walls, a guide in which the container can slide along a longitudinal axis, a thrust member associated with one convex end wall and having a corresponding convex surface, a thrust member associated with the other convex end wall and having a corresponding convex surface, one convex end wall having a passage therethrough and a resilient tubular sleeve formed integral with and extending inwardly from said convex end wall, and a tubular extension on the associated pressure member through which pressure iiuid can be transmitted to and from the container, said tubular extension passing through the passage in said end wall so as Vto be embraced by the sleeve and to communicate with the interior ofthe container, the

thrust members being relatively movable towards and away from one another so that when moved towards each other they bear on and deform the associated convex walls of the container and increase the pressure Within the container thereby increasing the pressure to be controlled.

VERNON ANTHONY TRIER air: 

